NOTICES AND ORDERS OF THE DAY

Items marked  are new or have been altered.

Items marked  are expected to be taken during the dinner adjournment.

WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER

At half-past two oclock

*The Baroness Gardner of ParkesTo ask Her Majestys Government how many fast track visas for skilled workers have been issued for people to work in the National Health Service and what National Health Service criteria are considered essential for such a visa.

*The Baroness Scott of Needham MarketTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they propose to take in view of the fact that, outside London, bus passenger numbers have declined by 1.5 per cent for the last year for which figures are available, whilst the targets set in their ten year plan predicted an increase.

*The Baroness Williams of CrosbyTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they have made to the Peoples Republic of China about the future implementation of powers under Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law.

*The Lord Forsyth of DrumleanTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking following the reported death from rabies of an animal welfare worker in Scotland.

*The Lord DubsTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they propose to take to safeguard the marine environment in the light of the recent sinking of the oil tanker Prestige off the coast of Spain.

The Lord Baker of DorkingTo call attention to the financial situation of British universities; and to move for papers. (5-hour debate)

The Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanTo move, That this House takes note of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 on Iraq.

[At three oclock]

*The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will introduce legislation to require all coaches to be fitted with seat belts for both drivers and passengers and all drivers and passengers to be required to wear these seat belts.

*The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government what measures they intend to introduce to encourage the growth of the private sector in healthcare.

*The Lord Astor of HeverTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the health needs of asylum seekers who have entered the United Kingdom are being met.

*The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government why passenger lifts at surface railway stations have been closed to passengers during the strike by firefighters.

It is expected that the debate on Iraq will continue.

MONDAY 2ND DECEMBER

*The Baroness SharplesTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made towards introducing a national identity card scheme.

*The Lord NewbyTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been the cost to date to public funds of the bidding process for the Public Private Partnerships for the maintenance and renewal of the London Underground system.

*The Lord Peyton of YeovilTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the role of the Department of Trade and Industrys Strategy Unit; what achievements the Unit has to its credit; and what is the total number of its staff and its cost.

*The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government who is responsible for Disaster Planning at national level.

In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Filkin to move, That the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

TUESDAY 3RD DECEMBER

*The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have advised electricity distribution companies in the United Kingdom of ways to reduce the risk of supplies to rural areas being interrupted as a result of severe weather.

*The Lord Roberts of ConwyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are concerned about the current level of household debt, and whether they propose to take any action.

*The Lord Renton of Mount HarryTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to deal with emergencies arising from a breakdown of the central London congestion charging scheme.

*The Lord Hurd of WestwellTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to deal with the results of overcrowding in H M Prisons.

In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Whitty to move, That the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 14th November be approved. [First Report from the Joint Committee]

The Baroness CoxTo ask Her Majestys Government what their response is to recent developments in Burma (Myanmar).

WEDNESDAY 4TH DECEMBER

*The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been the impact of the introduction of the euro on price convergence in the euro zone.

*The Baroness Masham of IltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many residential drug treatment centres there are in England for people aged under 17.

*The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the outcome of their discussions with Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Leader of the Justice and Development Party in Turkey.

The Lord DholakiaTo call attention to the role of local communities and of penal institutions in preventing crime and in rehabilitating offenders; and to move for papers.

The Lord OxburghTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that there will be sufficient well-trained engineers in the future.

THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER

[At eleven oclock]

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002The Earl of Onslow to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 31st October, be annulled (S.I. 2002/2675).

Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Applications for Patents) Order 2002The Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 5th November be approved. [40th Report, Session 2001-02, from the Joint Committee]

European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation Between the European Community and its Member States and the Republic of South Africa) Order 2002The Baroness Crawley to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 7th November be approved. [First Report from the Joint Committee]

Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Designation of Public Authorities) Order 2002The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 24th October be approved. [40th Report, Session 2001-02, from the Joint Committee]

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2002The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 18th November be approved.

Housing Support Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2002The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 18th November be approved.

Potato Industry Development Council (Amendment) Order 2002The Lord Whitty to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 23rd October be approved. [40th Report, Session 2001-02, from the Joint Committee]

Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002The Lord Whitty to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 14th November be approved. [2nd Report from the Joint Committee]

[At three oclock]

*The Lord Mackie of BenshieTo ask Her Majestys Government how charges for inspection are fixed in the case of environmental bodies such as the Environment Agency.

*The Lord Faulkner of WorcesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what future they envisage for the Post Office underground railway in London.

*The Lord BradshawTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will bring forward proposals to pay Special Constables.

The Lord Bishop of OxfordTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Stem Cell Research (HL Paper 83, Session 2001-02).

MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER

*The Lord Wallace of SaltaireTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that efforts to contain the threat of ballistic missiles through the negotiation of multilateral arms control agreements have now failed.

*The Baroness MaddockTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to reform the right to buy for social housing tenants.

*The Baroness Miller of HendonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are able to guarantee the continuity of electricity supplies following the collapse of an electricity supply company; and what support they plan to provide for companies currently running at a loss.

TUESDAY 10TH DECEMBER

*The Lord LipseyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are monitoring developments in the Scottish Executives policy of free personal care for the elderly.

*The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

The Lord Thomas of SwynnertonTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to resolve the problem of Gibraltar.

WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER

*The Lord Dormand of EasingtonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many school playing fields have been sold for other purposes in each of the five years 1997-2001.

*The Lord Williamson of HortonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in view of recent research on the effect on the brain of the drug ecstasy, they will increase their efforts to warn young people of the potential damage from the use of this drug.

*The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government, following the Church of Englands decision to discharge the Rev David Peachell, a Gulf war veteran, on grounds of Gulf War Illness and the release without question of his army pension in consequence of that decision, what consideration they will be giving to the implications for other ex-service men and women.

The Earl of ListowelTo ask Her Majestys Government how they are working with the Government of Angola and the international community to consolidate peace in post-war Angola.

THURSDAY 12TH DECEMBER

[At eleven oclock]

Licensing Bill [HL]Committee [The Baroness Blackstone]

[At three oclock]

*The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Winter Fuel Payment has been extended to any other groups of people in the last two years; if so to whom; and whether they intend to extend it further in the next two years and if so to whom.

TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER

*The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress they have made in implementing the Strategic Defence Review, particularly in respect of the capability to engage in expeditionary warfare on land.

WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER

*The Lord DenhamTo ask the Leader of the House whether he will draw the attention of the House to Standing Order 22 (Lords not to converse whilst the House is upon business).

*The Lord WaddingtonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether in the light of new evidence published in the British Medical Journal dated 23rd November they believe that the use of cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia.

THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER

NO DAY NAMED

PART I

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo call attention to the levels of pay of university teachers; and to move for papers.

The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have for the future ownership and control of postal addressing.

The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what are their policies when faced with overwhelming humanitarian crises and massive violations of human rights in other countries.

The Lord MoynihanTo call attention to the state of the United Kingdoms relations with Cuba; and to move for papers.

The Lord Rodgers of Quarry BankTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are satisfied with the performance of the Civil Aviation Authority in regulating low-cost airlines.

The Lord HoyleTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made on the review of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (COTES).

The Baroness Massey of DarwenTo ask Her Majestys Government how they will respond to the needs of families with disabled children as highlighted in the Barnados report Still missing out?

The Lord PalmerTo call attention to the situation in the British countryside; and to move for papers.

The Lord BradshawTo call attention to the trends in the number of road deaths and casualties; and to move for papers.

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the quality and effectiveness of the United Kingdoms rail infrastructure are satisfactory.

The Baroness Scott of Needham MarketTo call attention to the state of the bus industry; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Finlay of LlandaffTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to preserve the expertise and quality of the Public Health Laboratory Service.

The Baroness Finlay of LlandaffTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to tackle the threat that obesity poses to the health and well-being of the nation.

The Lord TurnbergTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking in response to the recent draft EC Directive which would allow doctors from other European Union countries to practise for 16 weeks without registration.

The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they still expect to meet the international development targets in southern Africa.

The Lord FreybergTo call attention to the role of design in improving public services; and to move for papers.

The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the significance of (a) the euro and (b) the United States dollar to the United Kingdom economy.

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to promote the well-being and competitiveness of the United Kingdoms soap and detergent industry.

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the services available to patients with Motor Neurone Disease are adequate.

The Lord NorthbourneTo call attention to the role of parents in providing for the needs of the nations children in the 21st century and to the case for making available more encouragement and support for parents; and to move for papers.

The Lord FreemanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether progress to date with the efficient use of resources in East Africa arising from debt relief and increased direct overseas aid is satisfactory.

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo call attention to the case for the abolition of the judicial functions of the House of Lords and the creation of separate Supreme and Constitutional Courts; and to move for papers.

The Baroness HooperTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to review the implications of taxation on the preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of the United Kingdom.

The Lord Hardy of WathTo call attention to the coal industry, the development of clean coal technology and the maintenance of a mining engineering industry within the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

The Earl of OnslowTo call attention to the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles; and to move for papers.

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo call attention to the impact of Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, and Hypoglycaemia on academic performance and social behaviour; and to move for papers.

The Lord LipseyTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to fulfil their manifesto commitment to review the experience of new electoral systems and the Jenkins Report, with a view to assessing whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons.

The Baroness HooperTo call attention to recent developments in Latin America; and to move for papers.

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what arrangements are being put in place for commissioning of specialised health services from April 2003.

The Baroness MaddockTo call attention to the effects of poor housing on the health and well-being of the nation; and to move for papers.

PART II

MOTIONS FOR BALLOTED DEBATE

[Ballot on 4th December for debate on 18th December]

The Baroness Oppenheim-BarnesTo call attention to the impact of traffic conditions on the life and economy of London; and to move for papers.

The Baroness WarnockTo call attention to the case for rethinking the provision for special educational needs; and to move for papers.

PART III

SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]

The Baroness Harris of RichmondTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Working in Europe: Access for All (15th Report, HL Paper 88, Session 2001-02). [11th March]

The Lord CrickhowellTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Reducing the Risk: Regulating Industrial Chemicals (13th Report, HL Paper 81, Session 2001-02). [12th March]

The Lord GrenfellTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Responding to the Balkan challenge: the role of EU aid (20th Report, HL Paper 107, Session 2001-02). [4th May]

The Lord Smith of CliftonTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures (HL Paper 150, Session 2001-02). [24th July]

The Lord GrenfellTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on The Convention on the Future of Europe (30th Report, HL Paper 163, Session 2001-02). [1st August]

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

[Tabled on 26th November]

The Lord TomlinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the outcome of the London Conference on Organised Crime in South Eastern Europe, held at Lancaster House on 25th November. (HL275)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will provide an estimate of what number and percentage of people aged over state pension age would pay (a) no tax, (b) tax at starting rate, (c) tax at basic rate and (d) tax at the higher rate if there were no age-related tax allowances for people aged 65 and over. (HL277)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government how much was spent on age-related allowances for people aged 65 and over in 2001-02. (HL278)

The Lord JuddTo ask Her Majestys Government what arrangements they are advocating to ensure that the election of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtlands successor as Director General of the World Health Organisation is open and transparent; what qualifications they will be rating most highly in candidates; and whether they will be seeking a commitment by candidates to the Alma-Ata declaration Health for All. (HL279)

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo ask Her Majestys Government how many hospital consultants are currently under suspension; and what proportion of the total this represents. (HL280)

The Lord HayhoeTo ask Her Majestys Government what discussions are taking place with strategic health authorities to determine whether the additional funds intended for hospices are reaching front line services; and what action is contemplated if shortfalls are established or suspected. (HL281)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government which Articles of the Schengen Acquis will be implemented by the provisions of the Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [HL]. (HL282)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how private ambulance organisations in Northern Ireland are accredited; and how their activities are monitored. (HL283)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the £16.2 million promised to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for capital investment in a press release of 3rd July has been allocated; and what projects are included in the proposed investment. (HL284)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many of the 72 recommendations contained in a Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, published in February 2000, have been carried out; whether sufficient funds have been made available; and, if not fully implemented, when they will be. (HL285)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the average age and mileage of the current fleet of ambulances in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; and how this average compares with the normally expected age and mileage for ambulances in England. (HL286)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the report into Administration in Northern Ireland will be published next August; and, if not, when. (HL287)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the standard percentage of emergency calls answered within eight minutes by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; and what is the comparable figure for England. (HL288)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the status of the independent reconfiguration panel being set up to consider major service changes in the National Health Service. (HL289)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government who are the members of the independent reconfiguration panel. (HL290)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the proceedings of the independent reconfiguration panel will be published. (HL291)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government how the advice of the independent reconfiguration panel will be made known, including whether the Secretary of State for Health accepts the panels advice. (HL292)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the independent reconfiguration panel will consider all major service changes; and, if not, what criteria will determine whether the panel considers such changes. (HL293)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 21st November (WA 14), why they did not answer those parts of the question relating to Northern Ireland. (HL294)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 21st November (WA 14), which Minister is able to answer the query in relation to Northern Ireland. (HL295)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in reducing disparity of funding between primary schools and post primary schools in Northern Ireland; and whether they have any plans to provide equality of funding for the primary school children of Northern Ireland. (HL296)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the estimated number of Greek Orthodox, Latins, Maronites and Anglicans living within Turkish Northern Cyprus. (HL297)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the estimated number of (a) Greek Cypriots living in the Karpaz Peninsula of Northern Cyprus; (b) Turkish Cypriots living in (i) Larnaca and (ii) Pafos in Southern Cyprus; (c) Turkish Cypriots living in Kokkina in Northern Cyprus and (d) Maronites living in Northern Cyprus. (HL298)

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER

26th NOVEMBER 2002

[Tabled on the dates shown]

[The Government department responsible for

answering each Question is shown in brackets]

13th November

The Earl of NortheskTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy towards the procurement of open-source as opposed to proprietary software; and what proportion of software, procured for use by (a) central government, (b) local government and (c) the public sector is from open-source sources. [HMT] (HL1)

The Earl of NortheskTo ask Her Majestys Government, in the light of recent reports about the £57,000 quarterly internet bill charged to Sandhurst primary school in Lewisham, what arrangements are in place for Government funding of internet connections in particular, and information technology provision more generally, for the education sector. [DfES] (HL2)

The Lord FreybergTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is illegal for cyclists to cycle at night with only flashing front and rear lights; and, if so, how many prosecutions were made last year. [HO] (HL3)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the number of disabled children in the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL6)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government how many disabled children live with their families; and how many in residential care. [DoH] (HL7)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what percentage of disabled children currently living at home could be classified as children living in poverty. [DWP] (HL8)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what support services and financial help are provided for families with disabled children living at home; whether these services take account of the extra cost of caring for a disabled child; and whether these services are available uniformly throughout the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL10)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is their intention to withdraw from the European Convention on Adoption in view of the Adoption and Children Act 2002. [DoH] (HL15)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government how many child curfews have been imposed by the courts in England and Wales. [HO] (HL19)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the statistics collected by the Department of Health on delayed discharge and emergency re-admission are publicly available on the Department of Health website; and, if they are not, for what reasons. [DoH] (HL20)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 14th October (WA 36-37), whether they consider it would be appropriate for manufacturer representatives to be given the opportunity to sit on or present evidence to the various national committees. [DoH] (HL23)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury from blood transfusion has been given a lower priority to date than the theoretical risk from vCJD; and why no action to protect patients against the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury has been taken. [DoH] (HL24)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what further measures they plan in order to reduce the level of hepatitis B transfusion-transmitted infection, stated in the SHOT annual report 2000-01 to be eight cases over six years. [DoH] (HL25)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government, in light of the recent discovery of West Nile virus in the United Kingdom and recent transmission issues relating to the virus in the United States

(a) what plans they are making to prevent spread of the virus through blood and plasma transfusions in the United Kingdom; and

(b) what validation studies were conducted to ensure that Methylene Blue inactivation of United States plasma will remove the risk of transmission of pathogenic viruses, including WNV, from United States-sourced blood and plasma products available in the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL26)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that there should be greater flexibility in State Aid Rules to allow specific economic emergencies, such as those that occurred in Cumbria in 2001, to be addressed. [DTI] (HL30)

The Lord JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government how many (1) child and adolescent psychiatrists and (2) paediatricians with expertise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder there are in (a) England and (b) Wales. [DoH] (HL34)

The Lord JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government how many extra (1) consultants and (2) school nurses have been recruited in (a) England and (b) Wales to tackle attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases. [DoH] (HL37)

The Lord LucasTo ask Her Majestys Government when they will be able to reply to the representations made by the Independent Schools Council on the issue of changes in visa regulations for gap assistants. [HO] (HL44)

The Lord Jenkin of RodingTo ask Her Majestys Government why they did not consult the representative bodies of local authorities before announcing their proposed reforms to tackle delays in discharging older people from hospital. [DoH] (HL46)

The Lord Jenkin of RodingTo ask Her Majestys Government why they will not reconsider the principles of their proposed reforms announced in April to tackle delays in discharging older people from hospital, in the light of the representations from the Local Government Association and others. [DoH] (HL47)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what kind of administration they foresee for Zimbabwe in a post-Mugabe era. [FCO] (HL49)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the accuracy of reports by the United States global intelligence firm Straffor on 8th November that Russian intelligence services are working together with pro-Russian Iraqi generals in order to oust the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein. [FCO] (HL56)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to take any action in response to the reported statement by the Chairman of the Convention on the future of Europe that the admission of Turkey to the European Union would mark the end of the European Union. [FCO] (HL57)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what practical support they will be offering to gain backing for the United Nations Secretary-Generals proposals for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. [FCO] (HL58)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119-121) concerning the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Irish Language Agency, whether they believe that ratification of the appointment was to be by the total Language Implementation Body, as required by paragraph 2.10 of part 5 of the Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8th March 1999 (Cm 4706); whether they received legal opinions on this issue; and whether they will place any opinions which they or the Government of the Irish Republic authorities received in the Library of the House. [NIO] (HL60)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will ensure that any arrangements made in the North South Ministerial Council during direct rule will be accountable, open and transparent and handled on the British side by politicians and not civil servants. [NIO] (HL61)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119-121) concerning the appointment of a Chief Executive to the Irish Language Agency, where the meeting of the North South Ministerial Council of 27th November 2001 was held; who attended; and what else was discussed. [NIO] (HL62)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 176-177) concerning the Food Safety Promotion Board, how the operation of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 can be monitored if the religious breakdown of the employees is not noted; and what information about each employee is recorded. [NIO] (HL63)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 172) about the North South Ministerial Council, what issues relating to the Boord o Ulster Scotch were discussed at the North South Ministerial Council meeting which was held on 9th October; and why the Boord was not informed about these discussions. [NIO] (HL65)

The Lord NorthbourneTo ask Her Majestys Government how many persons were awarded the National Diploma in Social Work last year; and how this figure compares with each of the previous five years. [DfES] (HL66)

The Lord NorthbourneTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they accept the finding of the Joint Inspectorate Review published by Ofsted (October 2002) that staff shortages in key services including schools and social services departments are in some local authorities a problem seriously affecting the quality of the service they offer; and, if so, what action is being taken to remedy these staff shortages. [DfES] (HL68)

14th November

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that county councils such as Cumbria County Council which have been seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease should seek to establish a forum in which the public sector agencies covering environment and health would meet on an annual or more frequent basis. [DEFRA] (HL70)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that, where appropriate, county councils such as Cumbria County Council which have been seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease should build on the foot-and-mouth disease task force model and create similar, but smaller, groups to help take forward initiatives related to the countys post-foot-and-mouth disease recovery and regeneration. [DEFRA] (HL71)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that tourism organisations should advise the tourism industry of the limitations of existing insurance cover and, together with the Regional Development Agencies, make representations to the insurance industry for the development of policies that would provide cover in the circumstances that occurred in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. [DEFRA] (HL73)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will undertake or commission further work into the emotional, social and mental health consequences of foot-and-mouth disease in Cumbria; and whether the research should be extended to encompass children. [DoH] (HL74)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will state their future plans for the Watchtree site in Cumbria; and particularly whether it should be permanently closed for disposal of animal carcasses or other waste. [DEFRA] (HL75)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the Fire Service in England and Wales are (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities. [ODPM] (HL76)

The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government how much money has been spent by the Cabinet Office on external consulting contracts in each of the years since 1996-97. [CO] (HL79)

The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government how much money has been spent by the Treasury on external consulting contracts in each of the years since 1996-97. [HMT] (HL80)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the total amount of unenforced and uncollected fines in England and Wales in 2000 and 2001. [LCD] (HL83)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what mechanism exists between the National Asylum Support Service and the Legal Services Commission as to notification of the location of dispersed asylum seekers, both those with support and accommodation and those with support only, so that the Legal Services Commission can ensure that there are sufficient suppliers of legal advice for the asylum seekers to access it. [HO] (HL84)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119-120) concerning the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Irish Language Agency, for which the procedure was approved on 27th June 2001 at a meeting in Waterways Sector format of the North South Ministerial Council, why this decision is not recorded in the joint communiqué which contains all decisions issued after the meeting; and what other decisions concerning the Language Sector have not been recorded in the joint communiqués. [NIO] (HL86)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 171-172) concerning the Language Implementation Body, who are the co-chairpersons of the Boord o Ulstèr Scotch; and, if there is only one chairperson, why there was a reference to co-chairpersons in the answer. [NIO] (HL87)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 169) concerning Implementation Boards, whether any accounting years other than the calendar year apply; and, if so, when and why. [NIO] (HL88)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 166) concerning the Northern Ireland block grant, what is the underspend for the year 2002-03. [NIO] (HL89)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 170 and WA 171-172), whether the word North refers to the most northerly county of the island of Ireland, Donegal; and, if not, why are the component parts of the Council not referred to by their legal titles. [NIO] (HL90)

The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove BayTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 10th June (WA 1-2)

(a) how many life peers there are in each of the three parties and on the Cross-Benches; and

(b) if no further life peers are created, what statistically would the number in each party be likely to be in each of the next 30 years. [LCD] (HL97)

18th November

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease they will encourage the relevant development agencies and county councils to build on existing initiatives to establish an intensive programme of regional economic monitoring that will provide the detailed up-to-date data necessary to allow business support initiatives to be targeted to the needs for economic regeneration. [ODPM] (HL101)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they intend to take to encourage operators of landfill and of mass burial sites in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease to build on existing initiatives to ensure that complaints of smell or other environmental intrusions on the local community are fully addressed. [DEFRA] (HL102)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will encourage county councils in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease to build on the work of the Restriction Review Team to establish regular meetings between responsible bodies and key stakeholders to develop methods and policies to protect and enhance countryside access. [ODPM] (HL103)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will match their plans for a community development venture fund in urban areas with a similar fund in rural areas. [DEFRA] (HL104)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Royal Air Force will continue to be able to overfly central and east Warwickshire, if a major new airport is built on land between Coventry and Rugby. [MoD] (HL105)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, if the Royal Air Force cannot continue to overfly central and east Warwickshire, they will be able to move their operations elsewhere; and, if so, where. [MoD] (HL106)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government to what extent the Royal Air Forces flight and navigational training programmes will be adversely affected if they cannot continue to overfly central and east Warwickshire. [MoD] (HL107)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government at what point all cases that are similar to, but not included in, the Roth case, which concerned clandestine entrants and the civil penalty, will be concluded. [HO] (HL108)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the total sum of civil penalties collected in cases that are similar to, but not included in, the Roth case, which concerned clandestine entrants and the civil penalty. [HO] (HL109)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 7th November (WA 131), given that it is forbidden for an elector to vote in two separate local elections in separate local authorities on the same day, what is the rationale for permitting the elector to exercise a second vote where one of the elections is a by-election held to fill a casual vacancy. [ODPM] (HL110)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the fact that a citizen who is registered to vote in two local authorities may not vote in elections held in more than one local authority on the same day breaches the principle of no taxation without representation. [ODPM] (HL111)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what increase in student numbers for courses devoted to European studies there have been in Britains higher education institutions over the past (a) five years and (b) ten years; and whether they will consider widening grants to higher education institutions to promote European studies, similar to the euro 7.2 million given to the European Research Institute at Birmingham University. [DfES] (HL113)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, as suggested by David Byrne, the European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, there is a potential risk of cancer to consumers, especially children, from frozen chips and crisps containing the chemical Acrylamide. [DoH] (HL114)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they support the introduction of the European Union Directive concerned with the re-use and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment; what savings they expect, in terms of environmental benefit; and what might offset the predicted two per cent price rise of goods in the shops. [DTI] (HL115)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the 31,261 trainee teachers are men; and how this proportion breaks down between those undertaking primary education courses (14,476) and those undertaking secondary education courses (16,785). [DfES] (HL116)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether vehicles will be able to travel along the new Newtownstewart by-pass in Northern Ireland before Christmas; and when this by-pass will be opened. [NIO] (HL117)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the estimated population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and how many of this population will have to be re-settled on the basis of each of the two maps in the present United Nations Proposals for the future constitution for Cyprus. [FCO] (HL118)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the former Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Devolved Executive requested an allocation of £48 million to this Department for the purchase of new trains in the present financial year; when these trains were due for delivery; whether any of this £48 million has been re-allocated to other Departments; and whether all this £48 million will be spent during the present financial year. [NIO] (HL119)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Prestige oil tanker, in distress off the Galicia coast of Spain, was sailing to Gibraltar; and what advice has been given to the Government of Spain. [FCO] (HL120)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government (a) what progress has been made in setting up care trusts; (b) which care trusts are being developed; and (c) when these are expected to operate as care trusts. [DoH] (HL122)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 29th July (WA 156), whether they are yet able to publish final figures for general and acute activity, analysed into elective and non-elective, for the year ended 31st March 2002. [DoH] (HL123)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, and if so from whom, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received representations about the possible miscarriage of justice in the cases of Alami and Botmeh (1996), in addition to the 21 representations to the Home Office mentioned in the Written Answer of 24th July by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton (WA 96-97). [FCO] (HL124)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the outcome of the visits made in January, February and May, by officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Security Services to the seven or more British citizens detained without trial by the United States at Camp X-ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; whether these men were in good mental and physical health; when they are expected to be released, or whether they are suspected of war crimes or other offences; if so, when they will be charged; and by whom. [FCO] (HL125)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to foster and develop a British solar thermal industry to rival those of Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. [DTI] (HL129)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have plans to extend their subsidy of central heating for domestic users to solar water heating. [DTI] (HL130)

The Lord Corbett of Castle ValeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will call upon the Government of Hungary to repeal Law LXXXXIV 2001 [PA 153] on the grounds that it may discriminate against minority religions and be incompatible with membership of the European Union. [FCO] (HL131)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they have taken to ensure that families and elderly residents in private residential care homes have complaints fully investigated; what actions management can be required to take; what monitoring is in place; what sanctions are available; and what compensation is available to residents if there is evidence of negligence and abuse. [DoH] (HL132)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will ensure that the National Care Standards Commission regulates minimum standards for contracts between private care homes and residents. [DoH] (HL133)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government what percentage of elderly people requiring residential care are in private care homes. [DoH] (HL134)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government what work the British Council has done or plans to do which is targeted at people over 50. [FCO] (HL135)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what funding or resources have been made available to the Irish Language Agency, similar to that referred to in the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 120) concerning two assistant editor posts, in each year since 1999; and for what the funding or resources were used. [NIO] (HL138)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many full-time permanent employees there were in each cross-border body, set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, taking the Irish Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency separately, currently and for the year 2000 and the year 2001. [NIO] (HL139)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 174), how many representatives of the Ulster protestant, Ulster Scots, and Ulster unionist communities in the Irish Republic are members of the Irish Human Rights Commission. [NIO] (HL140)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 120) concerning the appointment of two assistant editor posts for the Irish Language Agency, on what date the Agency was informed that North South Ministerial Council approval was required and that approval could be given at a meeting of 9th October; who provided that information; why the same facility was not offered to the Ulster Scots Agency; who designed the job specifications and salary scale; and which Departments approved them. [NIO] (HL141)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when they propose to make digital hearing aids available in Northern Ireland on the National Health Service. [NIO] (HL142)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they know when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will complete and report on its review of the Institute of Hearing Research of the project to modernise hearing aid services; and what form this review will take. [DoH] (HL143)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government how many of the existing sites chosen for the second phase of the Modernising Hearing Aid Services project are currently fitting digital hearing aids. [DoH] (HL144)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government, in view of the demands of leading edge technology, what plans are in place to improve the skills of existing technicians in the National Health Services hearing aid service who will be needed to fit digital hearing aids, now that there are plans to make these available to National Health Service patients. [DoH] (HL145)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what estimates have been made of the need for additional highly skilled technical staff to be recruited and trained to fit new digital hearing aids successfully; and what plans have been made to close the skills gap that is likely during the years before new graduates start working in this area. [DoH] (HL146)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the pilot Private Finance Initiative schemes with private hearing aid consultants currently in operation; and whether they intend to develop these further. [DoH] (HL147)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their definition of a tobacco smoke-free workplace, given that passive or involuntary smoke inhalation can trigger asthma attacks. [DoH] (HL148)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any plans to introduce a public awareness campaign on the dangers of passive smoking. [DoH] (HL149)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government when people with asthma can expect to be protected from passive smoking at work. [DoH] (HL150)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any plans to require tobacco manufacturers to provide additional health warnings on cigarette packets about the dangers of passive smoking including asthma. [DoH] (HL151)

19th November

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the problems associated with the Thomas Coram Foundations charitable status have been resolved so that the pictures in the Bloomsbury gallery will be on regular public view. [DCMS] (HL152)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government when they will announce the publication date of the National Service Framework delivery strategy for diabetes; and what additional resources will be provided to ensure its successful implementation. [DoH] (HL153)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what more the United Kingdom and the European Union can do to promote the Free Trade Area amongst the European Unions 12 partner countries bordering the Mediterranean; and whether they support political, social and economic reforms in the area, in conjunction with the removal of barriers in the agricultural and service sectors and the introduction of greater flexibility on rules of origin in the textile and clothing industries. [FCO] (HL154)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the success of the process instituted at the Lisbon Council designed to promote greater levels of entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises in Britain and in the European Union; and how they will contribute to Commissioner for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Erkki Liikanens proposed Green Paper on the subject. [FCO] (HL155)

The Lord VinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether money intended for regeneration projects under the Market Towns Initiative is reaching its intended targets; and, in particular, whether the Single Programme, administered by officers of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership, has not subsumed funds intended for the town of Alnwick. [DEFRA] (HL156)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what sums of public money have been, or are to be, allocated to the National Health Service Pension Fund to provide concessionary pension benefits for health service employees who have been granted early retirement in the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date. [DoH] (HL157)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many managerial staff, at each grade and for each region of the National Health Service, have been granted concessionary pension benefits arising from early retirement during the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date. [DoH] (HL158)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many managerial employees of the National Health Service who took early retirement in the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date were aged 61-65, 56-60, 51-55, and 50 and under respectively. [DoH] (HL159)

The Lord MonsonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 24th July (WA 73), whether they will make it clear to all persons recommended for the grant of a life peerage that the peerage so granted may be time-limited if Recommendation 103 in the Report of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords is implemented. [LCD] (HL165)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government in how many cases people have been committed to prison by magistrates courts for local tax default since the poll tax was introduced; and how many such committals were subsequently declared unlawful by the High Court. [LCD] (HL166)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they have had concerning the penalty of committal to prison in default of payment of community charge, council tax and other local taxes; and whether they have any plans to amend the law to abolish the penalty. [ODPM] (HL167)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what information they have on the decision of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to compensate Gulf War veterans afflicted with Lou Gehrigs disease, and the reasoning that informed their decision. [MoD] (HL168)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been their response to the decision of the European Commission not to pursue the cases in the European Court of Justice against France for its illegal ban on United Kingdom beef; and what representations they have made to the Commission since this decision. [FCO] (HL169)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any of their 500 Sure Start programmes for deprived children include any rural communities. [DWP] (HL171)

The Lord Butler of BrockwellTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22nd October (WA 93), when the requirement for employees to pay National Insurance contributions relating to employees over the State pension age was introduced. [HMT] (HL172)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 125) concerning education in Northern Ireland, whether the emerging consensus is contained in the responses to the extensive consultation; and what are the figures showing widespread demand for change. [NIO] (HL173)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119), whether they propose that the Security Service team should also conduct an independent and authoritative review of security in the entire Northern Ireland civil service. [NIO] (HL174)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what discussion they have had on reported NATO proposals for pre-emptive military strikes against suspected terrorists without prior approval or consent from the state in question; and how such strikes can be reconciled with existing international law and the desirable global rule of law. [FCO] (HL176)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they intend to make to the Government of Israel concerning the potential loss of greenhouses, olive trees and citrus trees, belonging mainly to Palestinians, which would result from the erection by Israel of a long security fence. [FCO] (HL177)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Harmondsworth Detention/ Removal Centre contains asylum applicants whose cases have not been finally decided; if so, how many and why; whether there are still some 45 children under 18 in this Centre; and what provision is made for their education. [HO] (HL178)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many asylum applicants without final decisions are currently held in detention in England and Wales. [HO] (HL179)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many people under 18 years of age are currently detained in adult prisons; and when the Government intend to apply the Children Act 1989 to such cases. [HO] (HL180)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many posts within the Northern Ireland civil service are classed as sensitive posts or higher; how many of those post holders possess valid security clearances; whether any Northern Ireland civil servants whose security clearances have expired are still in post; and, if so, why. [NIO] (HL181)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 123), whether this means that the Linguistic Diversity branch of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland does not contain officials with expertise in the Irish language and in Ulster Scots language and culture; and, if not, why not. [NIO] (HL182)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 174) concerning the Irish Governments respect for tradition, what were the 137 organisations involved in a wide range of cross-community education research and outreach programmes in 1999 and 2000; how much each received and for what project; what percentage went to groups in the Irish Republic; and what was the equality proofing for the allocations. [NIO] (HL183)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether exposure to tobacco smoke for people with asthma often leads to more severe symptoms such as reduced lung function, lower quality of life and increased use of the health service; and whether they will now ban smoking in the workplace or in public areas. [DoH] (HL184)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the two parts of the Language Implementation Body, as an international body set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, have an equal relationship with the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and its counterpart in the Government of the Irish Republic. [NIO] (HL185)

20th November

The Lord Smith of CliftonTo ask Her Majestys Government why the allowance granted to those members of the Northern Ireland Police Board who are also Members of the Legislative Assembly has been increased by £10,000 per annum. [NIO] (HL187)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Horticulture Research International remains financially viable. [DEFRA] (HL188)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy on supporting horticultural research in the United Kingdom. [DEFRA] (HL189)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any research programmes currently being carried out at Horticulture Research International are to be terminated next year; and, if so, why. [DEFRA] (HL190)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what public money has been allocated to Horticulture Research International during the financial years 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02 and 2002-03 respectively; and what funds are due to be allocated in 2003-04. [DEFRA] (HL191)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Ministers or officials played any part in bringing about the reopening of Stockbridge House Experimental Station following its closure in 2000. [DEFRA] (HL192)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether their Starter Home initiative for key workers extends to rural areas; and, if so, to which ones. [ODPM] (HL193)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government why a gap on top of the wall between Cluan Place in East Belfast and its neighbouring areas used by a sniper to shoot into the Cluan Place community on the night of 18th November was not repaired; when it will be repaired; and what other steps are being taken to assure the security of the residents. [NIO] (HL194)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether non smokers, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, face risks from passive smoking; and what plans they have to change the situation. [DoH] (HL195)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 169), which Departments of which Governments approved the job descriptions and salary scales of the new appointees listed; and at what meetings of the North South Ministerial Council they were approved. [NIO] (HL196)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 120-121), which indicated that the business plan for the Irish Language Body had been approved on 14th June, why a document from the North South Ministerial Council entitled Official Facilitation Meeting for the NS Language Body, dated 25th October, stated that the business plan for the Irish Language Agency will need the approval of the NSMC; and whether the plan has been approved or not. [NIO] (HL197)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 176-177), whether the answer means that employees of the Food Safety Promotion Board are subject to Republic of Ireland law and at the same time Northern Ireland law; and, given the differences between the two systems of law, how they resolve potential conflicts. [NIO] (HL198)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Smoking Kills White Paper in 1998, when they plan to implement the Approved Code of Practice, or any other measure that would effectively ban smoking in workplaces. [DoH] (HL199)

The Lord Peyton of YeovilTo ask Her Majestys Government whether adequate arrangements exist for the disposal of intermediate nuclear waste following the dismantling of Hinkley Point nuclear power station. [DTI] (HL200)

The Lord FearnTo ask Her Majestys Government what recommendations have been made by the Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission investigation into compulsory voting. [LCD] (HL201)

The Lord FearnTo ask Her Majestys Government how many patients underwent osteoporotic surgery in the last two quarters for which figures are available. [DoH] (HL202)

The Lord FearnTo ask Her Majestys Government how many overseas residents visits were made to the United Kingdom in (a) the first and (b) the second quarters of 2002. [DCMS] (HL203)

The Lord FearnTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the total employment figures in the first quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2002 in tourism-related industries in (a) England and (b) Great Britain. [DCMS] (HL204)

The Lord FearnTo ask Her Majestys Government how many regional development agencies employ personnel specifically dealing with tourism in their areas. [DTI] (HL205)

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they plan to commission an independent review of the work of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the light of, amongst other things, the report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee earlier this year and the disclosures in the Sunday Telegraph on 10th November by embryologist Dr Sammy Lee. [DoH] (HL206)

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the significance of asking respondents to the questionnaire on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authoritys consultation document Sex Selection: Choice and Responsibility in Human Reproduction to identify themselves in a category called pro life; and why respondents are not also asked to identify themselves where appropriate in a category called pro abortion. [DoH] (HL207)

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government how many abortions have been performed each year since 1990 under section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967; and how many of these abortions have been performed after twenty-four weeks gestation. [DoH] (HL208)

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government whether medical practitioners performing abortions under section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 are legally obliged to specify the nature of the physical or mental abnormalities giving rise in their judgment to serious handicap when reporting such abortions to the Department of Health. [DoH] (HL209)

The Lord Alton of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7th November (WA 144), for exactly how long the Department of Health has known about dangers inherent in in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive technologies. [DoH] (HL210)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6th November (WA 111), whether

(a) no Minister or official from the Home Office formally agreed the specification for the contract with Capita to process criminal record checks; and

(b) no Minister or official from the Home Office was responsible for the actual procurement of the contract with Capita to process criminal record checks. [HO] (HL211)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government who authorised the Criminal Record Bureau to draw up a specification for, and procure, a contract with Capita for processing criminal record checks. [HO] (HL212)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government who is authorised to see personal bank and building society details which appear on an application form for a criminal record check; and what guarantee there is for the applicant that such information cannot be used or abused. [HO] (HL213)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government who set the parameters with regard to both financial and service levels for the Criminal Records Bureau to agree a specification for, and procure, a contract with Capita for processing criminal record checks; and what were these parameters. [HO] (HL214)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government what predictions were made and by whom of the number of criminal record checks in the contract with Capita; and over what periods. [HO] (HL215)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any penalty clauses were built into the contract with Capita to process criminal record checks; whether any such clauses have been invoked; and to what effect. [HO] (HL216)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Nigerian Government imposed an import ban in August on United Kingdom dark chicken meat; and, if so, whether this is a temporary or a long-term ban. [DEFRA] (HL217)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs failed to claim the £4 million European Union grant aid which was available for the monitoring of disease such as scrapie and BSE in 2002. [DEFRA] (HL218)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government how many of the 83 public consultations the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs instigated since 1st June 2001 have been responded to and acted upon. [DEFRA] (HL219)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will use the European Union approved blood test for the testing of badgers in the Krebs trial. [DEFRA] (HL220)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will continue with their plan to establish a scrapie resistant sheep flock, following the recent case of a sheep with the genotype that is most resistant to the brain disease scrapie developing BSE after the infective prion was injected into its brain. [DEFRA] (HL221)

21st November

The Earl of Mar and KellieTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposed legislation for this session of Parliament will have significant application in Scotland. [SO] (HL223)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the comments by the Lord Whitty on 2nd November 2000 (HL Deb, col. 1187), what progress has been made in electronic relicensing of motor vehicles. [DfT] (HL224)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the total annual value and number of dishonoured cheques received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the last convenient period. [DfT] (HL225)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the total annual value and number of dishonoured or fraudulent credit or debit card transactions involving the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the last convenient period. [DfT] (HL226)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether credit or debit card transactions present any practical difficulties for either motorists or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [DfT] (HL227)

The Lord Pilkington of OxenfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether copies of the consultation document on school admissions were sent to all schools and governing bodies; and who else received the consultation document. [DfES] (HL228)

The Lord GreavesTo ask Her Majestys Government by what date under the terms of the European Union End of Life Vehicles Directive was the United Kingdom to have the Directive transposed into British law; and when will this take place. [DTI] (HL229)

The Lord GreavesTo ask Her Majestys Government from what date car owners will be required to pay the increased cost of treatment required by the European Union End of Life Vehicles Directive when disposing of old vehicles; and what is their estimate of the charges likely to be required. [DTI] (HL230)

The Lord GreavesTo ask Her Majestys Government from what date all vehicle dismantlers have to provide a certificate of destruction to certify that the cars they treat are disposed of in a manner that complies with the European Union End of Life Vehicles Directive. [DTI] (HL231)

The Lord GreavesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a Post Office box number meets the imprint requirements for election leaflets. [LCD] (HL232)

The Lord GreavesTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 28th October (WA 2), whether, in addition to lists of successful applicants for absent votes, the application forms or other written applications for postal votes are also available for inspection. [LCD] (HL233)

The Lord Roberts of ConwyTo ask Her Majestys Government how much funding has been provided annually for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships since their establishment. [HO] (HL234)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the accountability and governance arrangements for National Health Service Professionals. [DoH] (HL235)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the expected financial outcome for National Health Service Professionals for 2002-03 [DoH] (HL236)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any central money has been made available to National Health Service Professionals during 2002-03; and, if so, how much. [DoH] (HL237)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether National Health Service providers are obliged to use the services of National Health Service Professionals if they wish to hire agency nurses. [DoH] (HL238)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether National Health Service Professionals has a finance director who holds a recognised accountancy qualification. [DoH] (HL239)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what objectives have been set for National Health Service Professionals for 2002-03 and for its chief executive (or other senior responsible manager). [DoH] (HL240)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government how many non-civil servant advisers have been employed in the Department for Education and Skills to assist Ministers since May 1997; and how many remain on the payroll. [DfES] (HL241)

The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government how much money was spent in each year from 1997-98 to 2001-02 on outside consultancies by the Department for Education and Skills. [DfES] (HL242)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the tax credits that are available for clearing contaminated land extend to rural areas. [HMT] (HL243)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what communication took place during the week beginning 4th November between the Department for Transport and the Health and Safety Executive, and between the Department for Transport and Network Rail, over the planned reinstatement of points 2182A at Potters Bar during the weekend of 9th-10th November; and whether the Department for Transport was responsible for the cancellation of the planned work. [DfT] (HL244)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what role victims, or relatives of victims, of transport accidents have in preventing, delaying or authorising the reinstatement of infrastructure damaged in the accident in respect of

(a) the road network; and

(b) the rail network. [DfT] (HL245)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government how many responses have been received to the consultation on the Future Development of Air Transport, broken down by region; and how many letters have been received, broken down by Government department. [DfT] (HL246)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether traffic planners in the South-East are required to take special account of congestion caused by journeys to and from Heathrow; and, if so, what radius from Heathrow is covered by the requirement. [DfT] (HL247)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a new airport for 64 million passengers per year, sited in Warwickshire, would automatically be designated under section 80 for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, in order to impose restrictions on night flying from any such airport. [DfT] (HL248)

The Baroness ByfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, if a new airport to handle 64 million passengers per year is built in Warwickshire, local authorities downstream of the existing flood plain which the airport will cover will be indemnified against flooding; and, if so, by whom. [DfT] (HL249)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Primary Care Trusts and other National Health Service commissioning bodies are responsible for ensuring that the standards of clinical governance required by the Trusts are adhered to by contractors, including general practitioners, who provide clinical services on behalf of the Trust. [DoH] (HL250)

The Baroness BuscombeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the number of members of each local authority in England and Wales falling within the definition of a Licensing Authority in clause 3(1) of the Licensing Bill, indicating in each case how many members of the authority are members of an executive established under Part II of the Local Government Act 2000. [DCMS] (HL251)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 5th November (WA 92-93), whether they have received representations about bringing lighthouses around Britain and Ireland under the British-Irish Council; and, if so, from whom. [DfT] (HL252)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 122), how the terms CTC (counter terrorist check), SC (security check) and DV (developed vetting) relate to the more familiar negative and positive vetting concepts. [NIO] (HL253)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government

(a) whether the post of the interim Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency, appointed in 1999, was advertised either internally or externally to the civil service; and, if so, whether they will place a copy of the job advertisement in the Library of the House;

(b) how many applications were received;

(c) which Departments were represented on the appointment committee; and

(d) what equality procedure was involved. [NIO] (HL254)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 167-170), why the Chief Executive Officers of the Cross-Border Bodies, set up in 1999, have not yet been provided with a pension; what other Cross-Border Implementation Body posts do not have pension provision; and what steps are being taken to make such provision. [NIO] (HL255)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 167-170), whether Tourism Ireland is an Implementation Body; if not, why it was included in the Written Answer; under what legislation it was set up; what its relationship is to the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies; and whether it is a government agency. [NIO] (HL256)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 127), who are the parties to the Belfast Agreement; what are the obligations of the Irish Government under the Belfast Agreement; and to what extent, if at all, they consider that the Irish Government has honoured its obligations. [NIO] (HL257)

25th November

The Lord TomlinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government what role the Attorney General plays in the firefighters dispute. [LSLO] (HL260)

The Baroness Rendell of BaberghTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the outcome of the Conference to launch the International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missiles. [FCO] (HL261)

The Baroness Turner of CamdenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any savings have been made in legal aid expenditure since the introduction of the Conditional Fee Agreements Regulations in April 2000; and, if so, how much. [LCD] (HL262)

The Lord SwinfenTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the additional daily cost to the police of the firefighters strike. [HO] (HL263)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November concerning a North South Ministerial Council (WA 171-172), whether the reference to the administration in the North refers to Donegal County Council, who administer the most northerly part of the island of Ireland; if not, what part of the answer covers the northern part of the island of Ireland; and what is the appropriate title for that part of the island. [NIO] (HL264)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 118), who are the parties to the IRA ceasefire; what was its date; whether there are any written terms; and whether there are any provisions regarding its monitoring. [NIO] (HL265)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 121), which official, and of what rank, advised the United Kingdom and Irish Governments; and whether the official belongs to the United Kingdom or the Irish Government. [NIO] (HL266)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 121-122), whether the community background information sought is available anywhere; and, if so where. [NIO] (HL267)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will given an undertaking that any replacement for the eleven plus examination in Northern Ireland will be based on the wishes of parents, teachers and the community and that full consultation will take place . [NIO] (HL268)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether civil servants from the Republic of Ireland who are operating in a part of the United Kingdom, namely Northern Ireland, have diplomatic immunity; and, if not, what is their status. [FCO] (HL269)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what recent representations the Department for Work and Pensions has received from Rehab UK about the future of its Tyne and Wear Brain Injury Centre; and what action they are taking. [DWP] (HL270)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what would be the estimated cost to the National Health Service of the additional employment rights being granted to temporary workers by the proposed new European Directive. [DoH] (HL271)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the cost to the National Health Service in 2001-02 of temporary workers, broken down between the cost of doctors, nurses and other staff categories. [DoH] (HL272)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the cut in stamp duty for property in disadvantaged areas includes any rural districts. [HMT] (HL274)

26th November

The Lord TomlinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the outcome of the London Conference on Organised Crime in South Eastern Europe, held at Lancaster House on 25th November. (HL275)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will provide an estimate of what number and percentage of people aged over state pension age would pay (a) no tax, (b) tax at starting rate, (c) tax at basic rate and (d) tax at the higher rate if there were no age-related tax allowances for people aged 65 and over. (HL277)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government how much was spent on age-related allowances for people aged 65 and over in 2001-02. (HL278)

The Lord JuddTo ask Her Majestys Government what arrangements they are advocating to ensure that the election of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtlands successor as Director General of the World Health Organisation is open and transparent; what qualifications they will be rating most highly in candidates; and whether they will be seeking a commitment by candidates to the Alma-Ata declaration Health for All. (HL279)

The Lord Hodgson of Astley AbbottsTo ask Her Majestys Government how many hospital consultants are currently under suspension; and what proportion of the total this represents. (HL280)

The Lord HayhoeTo ask Her Majestys Government what discussions are taking place with strategic health authorities to determine whether the additional funds intended for hospices are reaching front line services; and what action is contemplated if shortfalls are established or suspected. (HL281)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government which Articles of the Schengen Acquis will be implemented by the provisions of the Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [HL]. (HL282)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how private ambulance organisations in Northern Ireland are accredited; and how their activities are monitored. (HL283)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the £16.2 million promised to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for capital investment in a press release of 3rd July has been allocated; and what projects are included in the proposed investment. (HL284)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many of the 72 recommendations contained in a Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, published in February 2000, have been carried out; whether sufficient funds have been made available; and, if not fully implemented, when they will be. (HL285)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the average age and mileage of the current fleet of ambulances in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; and how this average compares with the normally expected age and mileage for ambulances in England. (HL286)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the report into Administration in Northern Ireland will be published next August; and, if not, when. (HL287)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the standard percentage of emergency calls answered within eight minutes by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; and what is the comparable figure for England. (HL288)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the status of the independent reconfiguration panel being set up to consider major service changes in the National Health Service. (HL289)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government who are the members of the independent reconfiguration panel. (HL290)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the proceedings of the independent reconfiguration panel will be published. (HL291)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government how the advice of the independent reconfiguration panel will be made known, including whether the Secretary of State for Health accepts the panels advice. (HL292)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the independent reconfiguration panel will consider all major service changes; and, if not, what criteria will determine whether the panel considers such changes. (HL293)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 21st November (WA 14), why they did not answer those parts of the question relating to Northern Ireland. (HL294)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 21st November (WA 14), which Minister is able to answer the query in relation to Northern Ireland. (HL295)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in reducing disparity of funding between primary schools and post primary schools in Northern Ireland; and whether they have any plans to provide equality of funding for the primary school children of Northern Ireland. (HL296)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the estimated number of Greek Orthodox, Latins, Maronites and Anglicans living within Turkish Northern Cyprus. (HL297)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the estimated number of (a) Greek Cypriots living in the Karpaz Peninsula of Northern Cyprus; (b) Turkish Cypriots living in (i) Larnaca and (ii) Pafos in Southern Cyprus; (c) Turkish Cypriots living in Kokkina in Northern Cyprus and (d) Maronites living in Northern Cyprus. (HL298)

BILLS IN PROGRESS

[The date in square brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]